Bothy closed on Highland estate planned as home for wolves

A bothy on a controversial estate in northern Scotland is to close from next month.

The Alladale bothy stands on land owned by millionaire Paul Lister, who says he wants to introduce wolves to the 23,000-acre ‘wilderness reserve’ near Croich, north-west of Tain. The estate is to be surrounded by a nine-foot-high, electrified fence.

Walkers’ groups say this would effectively exclude the public from the land, against the spirit of the country’s right-to-roam law, the Land Reform (Scotland) Act. Visitors to the luxury Alladale wilderness reserve and Highland lodge pay thousands of pounds for the privilege.

It is believed the lodge, which was restored by the Mountain Bothies Association (MBA) in 1972 and has been used as free, open shelter ever since, will be converted to accommodation for paying guests. The bothy will close on 1 November.

Peter King, MBA general secretary said: “While we are disappointed that this fine bothy, which is in a superb location, will no longer be available for use by walkers and other outdoor enthusiasts, the MBA is grateful to both the current owner of Alladale, Mr Paul Lister and the previous owners, Mr and Mrs MacAire for making the building available as an unlocked shelter for so many years”

Alladale’s publicity, aimed at corporate groups, boasts: “Located at one of the most remote lodges in the Highlands with no access roads or Munros on the reserve, your privacy is assured and as a bonus for groups wishing to concentrate fully on the Alladale corporate retreat programme, the reserve is outside any mobile telephone coverage.”

Wild boar have already been released on to the reserve, and there are plans to import European elk and possibly brown bears and lynx.

Journalist and former president of the Ramblers’ Association (RA) in Scotland Cameron McNeish visited the site and met the owner, and has since come out strongly against Mr Lister’s plans. He wrote: “While I would welcome the opportunity of seeing wolves in the Highlands, I believe Paul Lister's plans for an electrified fence is too high a price to pay.

“If he did manage to convince the authorities that planning permission should be given it wouldn't be long before other landowners thought up similar schemes, many of which would be with the purpose of keeping the public out.”

The RA shares Mr McNeish’s concerns. It said: “Ramblers Scotland is clearly concerned about the threat to access posed by such a fence, even if access points are included, and we believe that it is unlikely to receive planning permission.

“Our main worry, however, is that if this development went ahead it would set a precedent for other landowners to stock their estates with a few wild animals and then put a fence around the whole area. We continue to take an interest in this project.”

Paul Lister, the son of Noel Lister, is heir to the MFI furniture store fortune. He bought the Alladale estate in 2003 for a reported £5m.

Nigel Brown

09 December 2007

Why is everybody pussy-footing about this? The notion of removing the right of access to a superb part of the Highlands for the general public is preposterous, draping a 9 foor fence around the area is wilfull desctruction of pristine scenery, and re-introducing species which were a pain when they were last present here and which can survive better in other more suitable parts of the world is ridiculous. But unless those against the scheme come properly off the fence and demonstrate clear unequivocal opposition then there's a danger that the single-minded Lister publicity machine will have its way. The opposition needs to be heard loud and clear, by all, including those who will be asked to take the decisions.

James

14 December 2007

I'm all in favour of reintroducing Wolves to the Scottish Highlands. I think it's a fantastic idea. However, I'm not at all in favour of 9 foot high electrified fences covering vast tracts of pristine wilderness.

steve sinclair

08 April 2008

i fully support the plan to reintroduce the wild animals back in to scotland, after all they were here long before there were ramblers or land owners , what real right had man have to get rid of them in the first place ?

Nigel Miles

11 April 2008

Paul Lister has both vision and a unique understanding of an ecological imperative which only citizens of mainland EU truly understand and understand. He and his collegues are promoting a philosophy which others are attempting in a manner appropriate to areas in the new EU countries who accept the larger mammalian biodiversity but are as yet do not fully appreciate and celebrate their unique natural heritage. It is now known that a group of Anglo-Lithuanian colleagues are proposing a natural heritage centre in this Baltic Nation where such wildlife is natural occurring and to celebrate their occurrence. [color=#000000][/color]

laura

15 April 2008

if the ramblers want to ramble, let them, see how they cope when they're being chased by wild wolves!!

billy bob

15 April 2008

Controversial as this comment may be, I believe that if a landowner wants to erect a fence, 2ft high or 9ft high, around their own land he should be entitled to do so without fear of a public outcry or demonstration. Since when did the person who pays for the land, have less say over what happens to it than the ramblers who seem intent to have access to everyone else's?

Stacey

16 April 2008

I think everyones missing the point here, whilst introducing these predators sounds good in principle, if this was proposed 12 miles away from your home and your childs school, would you still think it a wonderful idea? These animals present problems applying to more than ramblers rights to walk freely. Whether a fence is erected or not they will inevitably escape. And as for the owners argument of it working in Africa...if the lions escape the African farmer can shoot them to protect his family. And the land reform act was to protect the rights of the scottish people to have access to their own land as it has been bought up bit by bit by non scottish entrepreuneurs to turn a profit or to a have a rural retreat.

Jules

16 April 2008

I wish I could meet Paul I think what he is doing is absolutely fantastic. I love to walk and live in Northumberland. Come on ramblers you have the rest of Scotland and Northern England to walk in, be less selfish. this country needs visionarys like this, go for it Paul.

Guest

16 April 2008

Yeha but you're all missing the point!!!!! The European Parliament supersedes Scottish law, so yah boo sucks too you all!!! BRING ON THE WOLVES!!!

Avelynne

16 April 2008

What Paul Lister is doing to reintroduce wildlife back home is wonderful, the only fret is us! I am sure more children/adults are harmed in a year by cars, people, guns, planes etc than by wild animals! if I had a large amount of money i would not think twice about setting up a project simular to Paul Lister, it is a shame he has such a lack of support.

Keith I

16 April 2008

I absolutely 100% support what Paul Lister is trying to achieve. Man is unwittingly destroying all the planets wild areas and it is admirable that he is trying to reverse the trend. People all over the world live with everything from Snakes to Elephants to the humble Mosquito! All of these things kill more people annually than Wolves would kill and have ever killed. Its time we stopped being such a bunch of pathetic wooses and started to appreciate what we could have again.

Guest

16 April 2008

RE: "introducing these predators sounds good in principle, if this was proposed 12 miles away from your home and your childs school, would you still think it a wonderful idea?" - exactly the attitude that is destroying our planet... So many people are happy to support environmentalism until it touches on their own convenience, but our conveniences are the problem!

Ms V Suckling

16 April 2008

[smiley=angry]Regarding Guest comments posted 16/04/08. I myself was in Yosemiti Park (USA) in January of this year when I was fortunante to come face to face with a Bob cat. With me were two other adults and three children. We were so suprised as it was no more than 100 metres infront of us and had clearly seen us first. It made no attempt to attack, infact it was more interested in the herd of mule deer we had just passed. It would seem we were of no interest what so ever.

Guest

14 May 2008

What Paul Lister is trying to do is make money. The scheme is all about setting up a game park which he would charge people to visit and a 5-start luxury hotel for people to stay in. There is nothing wrong with trying to make a business, but be honest about it rather than cloaking it in "environmental" wrapping for presentation's sake.

Spanto

26 May 2008

So Paul Lister is a wonderful environmentalist who only wants to see wild animals frolicking around in the highland sunshine.... Yeah right. Mister lister apart from wanting to make himself more money, is no different to the obnoxious Ann Gloag and Euan snowie who invent any excuse to justify their own selfishness. Everyone has the right to their own privacy and security in their home. But by the same token Everyone has the right to roam the wilderness. Paul Lister = Selfish Greed.

JD

26 May 2008

Paul Lister = Ann Gloag = Euan Snowie = Selfish Greed. But lets pretend it is an environmental or a security issue and we can try to get our own way.

Guest

09 June 2008

Even if it is all for money the wolves are still going to be back were they should[smiley=angry]. Guest think about it this way. wolves probably roamed that area previsously so in that sense of mind a 12kms house is on wolf territory ary way they were there first and they deserve a right to come com DAMN the ramblers

ah

12 June 2008

Wolves, Lynx and Elk. Great. But but not for a greedy millionare to make more millions from wealthy clients, Whilst excluding the rest of us great unwashed from the wilderness. Also how can anyone (own) a wilderness area?

Guest

16 August 2008

would all you anti people like people wondering around your home 24/7 as a multi millionare why would his priority be making money also i imagine the fence is for peoples safety not to exclude precious ramblers,its not all about them, walk elsewhere or in their neighboughs gardens

Guest

20 August 2008

When are all this xenophobs who are bickering about the loss of their child to the jaws of marauding wolves going to come out of their fairy tail boxes. Folk from Germany to Mongolia and beyond laugh at the absolute stupidty of such comments. If you wish to make comments about the ethology of wolves take a three year university course directed by Doug Smith in the Yellowstone Ecosystem complex and the and only then make comments about what wolves do to people. Please remember that it is man who has almost extirmated these predators from the face of the Earth.

Guest

28 August 2008

I think its a wonderful idea in principal to bring back these species to the Highland Wilderness. I have one reservation however, I want to be able to see this wonderful wilderness, does this mean I can take my gun as they do in the African Bush and shoot these animals if they look as though they might attack. This glorious scenery just cannot be fenced off from everyone.

Brian MacLeod

03 December 2008

I wonder if all these environmentally minded people who want to introduce predators into my part of the country are so noble about the beasties in their environment.

ie, do they allow rats to breed unfettered around their home, never use insecticide to kill flies etc. If so, I'll listen to them.

BTW there is a species of mammal that has been more recently eliminated in the Alladale area. Maybe it should be re-introduced. Oh, of course, that wouldn't work, the species was native Highland Scots.

Shuggy

14 July 2011

Not looked at this site for a while, obviously. Nigel Miles 11/4/08, the point you seem to be missing is, in Europe wolves, and other animals Paul Lister wishes to introduce, are already roaming NATURALLY. This is as opposed to what he wants in Scotland, fenced in, a zoo for his profit.
Billy Bob 15/4/08, are you a Scot, or were you educated in Scotland? I am, and was, but now live in England. I was taught by my geography teacher, way back in the mid fifties, about the right we peasants had to walk with impunity on the hills. The trespass laws have ALWAYS, well in my lifetime, been different in Scotland than England. That's the answer to the first part of your question. The second part is a statement, and totally wrong. As a walker I have no wish to have access to everyone else's land, but equally I will not be stopped from walking where I'm entitled to!!
Guest 16/8/08, we're NOT wandering about his HOME. He, like you, should have got clued up on Scottish, not English law on trespass. He may be a multi millionare, but as I said to someone else here a few years ago, his company is going bust, therefore, he has to make money! The fence is to keep us OUT. Go on his site, see what he's charging, then tell me he's doing it for the wolves!! Aye, right, as someone else put it!! Unless you come up on the lottery nobody, except his paying guests, will walk there again.
I'll stick my neck out, and say where I think the problem now lies. I'm not an expert on law, but as stated earlier was informed at school about our right to roam. In my opinion the blame lies with the lawyers and MP's north of the border. Donald Trump is another example. I mean what is the point of designating a place SSI, then when the big bucks appear ignore that status? They've also missed the obvious insult, "the best golf course in the world." That warrants another "Aye right!" Scotland is considered to be the home of golf Donald, it case it's slipped your notice!! Course (no pun intended) it wouldn't have anything to do with the 500 apartments and hotel complex, would it?
What the politicians and lawyers should be doing, is informing ALL who wish to buy land in Scotland about the trespass laws, and how they differ from England. Then the people who wish to buy land there know exactly where they stand. They can then buy or not, but they must comply with Scots law!!!

Sjb

24 February 2012

I think we should all forget about the dangerous animal thing. If mr lister gets his animals and they stay inside the fences that's fine. We're safe. We're the animals to ever escape I'm sure we would all still be safe. That's because the life expectancy of a wolf freely cruising about in that part of the world out side of its protected environment would be very short indeed!!! The same goes for a lynx or brown bear. Most of the local keeper population would see to that! You would really be quite lucky to bump into one of these animals in the wild anyway.

Now for the rambler part. I say let Paul lister do as he pleases and if people still wish to ramble on his property free of charge with the bears and wolves and lynx let them and he should make that possible for them.

Happy rumblings.

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